Chestes, shelf boxes and similar household storage and display devices



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN R. NATHAN L. SCI/442721 14 A 770/?VEX N. L. SCHWARTZMAN CHESTS, SHELF BOXES AND SIMILAR HOUSEHOLD STORAGE AND DISPLAY DEVICES March 29, 1966 Filed March 16, 1964 March 29, 1966 N. L. SCHWARTZMAN CHESTS, SHELF BOXES AND SIMILAR HOUSEHOLD STORAGE AND DISPLAY DEVICES Filed March 16, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5/; M 4 F I G. 6 5a 67 A/ATHAN 4. s c lpg g wm A 77' ORA/EX March 29,1966 N.

L SCHWARTZMAN CHESTS, SHELF BOXES AND SIMILAR HOUSEHOLD STORAGE AND DISPLAY DEVICES Filed March 16, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. IO

INVENTOR. IVA THAN L. SCHWARTZMAN FIQII ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,242,960 CHESTS, SHELF BOXES AND SIMILAR HOUSE- HOLD STORAGE AND DISPLAY DEVICES Nathan L. Schwartzman, Jersey City, N..I., assignor to Protex Products Co., Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 352,070 10 Claim. '(Cl. 150-52) It is hence an object of this invention to provide an improved knockdown chest or shelf box construction which can be shipped and stored in knockdown condition and easily set up for display by the store keeper or for use by the purchaser. More specifically, the container embodying the invention will comprise an inner box having walls which may be folded or stored fiat when not in use and which may be set up and interlocked into box shape and an outer decorative casing or housing therefor of flexible sheet material covering the outside of the inner box, with a flap to cover the open side of the box.

A further object of this invention is to provide a knockdown structure of the character described provided with a plurality of removable, collapsible inner compartment forming members which may be removed and folded or collapsed flat when not in use, so that they may be compactly packed with the collapsed box and housing, for the purpose of compact shipment and/ or storage.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a strong and durable construction of the character described which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to set up or knockdown, and which shall yet be practical and efiicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown an illustrative embodiment of this invention,

FIG. '1 is a perspective view of a chest embodying the invention, with the flap partially opened up and with parts broken away and in cross-section;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1;

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forming members of FIG. 1, and showing, in dot-dash lines, how said member is to be collapsed;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 1, of a modified form of the invention embodied in a shelf box, with parts broken away and in cross-section;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the parts of the inner box of FIG. 9, and illustrating, in dot-dash lines, how said parts are to be folded.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, and particularly to FIGS. 1 to 8 thereof, 10 designates a chest embodying the invention. The same comprises an inner box 12 provided with compartment forming members 13 and housed in an outer covering casing 14.

The outer casing 14 may be made of flexible sheet material and comprises a bottom wall 15, end walls 16 stitched to the bottom wall and united therewith with a binding 17. Extending up from the bottom wall 15 are front and rear walls 18 stitched to the side edges of the end walls 16 and united by bindings 19 which are extensions of the bindings 17. Stitched to the upper edges of the front wall 18 by binding 20, and to the upper edges of end walls 16 by bindings 21, is a top wall 22 having inner side edges 23 spaced inwardly from binding 21 and merging by means of curved edges 24, with an edge 25 spaced from binding 20. Said edges 23, 24, 25 form an open top and having a slide fastener element strip 26 attached thereto. The rear ends of top walls 22, between bindings 21 and edges 23, are stitched to the upper end of the rear wall 18 by a binding 28 extending across the entire upper end of said rear wall, and serving to attach to said rear wall, a top flap 30 having an edge 31 complementary to edges 23, 24, 25 of the top wall and provided with a slide fastener clement strip 32 complementary to fastener element strip 26. A slider 33 is provided to effect opening and closing of the flap.

The casing 14 is prismatic in shape, as shown. The box 12 therein comprises a part 40 and a pair of similar parts 41, shown in detail in FIG. 7. Part 40 is made of stiff cardboard or plastic or like material and comprises a bottom panel 4?; from which extends a pair of hinged panels 44. The bottom panel 43 is of a size to lie flat against and overlie the bottom wall 15 of casing 14. At its end, panel 43 has a plurality of spaced shallow grooves or notches 46, each having a depth equal to the thickness of parts 41. Preferably parts 40, 41 are of the same thickness. On opposite sides of each groove 46 are tabs 47. Part 40 may be made from a single piece of cardboard and is formed with parallel, longitudinal incisions 46a at the underside thereof to permit panels 44 to be folded. Panels 44 may lie flat against and cover the inner surfaces of walls 18 of the casing 14.

The height of side panels 44 is preferably less than the width of bottom panel 43, so that said side panels may be folded down flat one over the other on top of said bottom panel. For this reason, of course, the height of walls 18 is correspondingly less thanthe width of bottom wall 15 of casing 14.

Said side panels 44 are also formed with shallow notches or grooves 48 of a depth equal to the thickness of each of panels or parts 41. On opposite sides of each groove 48 are tabs 49.

Parts 41 each comprises an end panel for the inner box and may lie against and cover the inner surface of an end wall 16 of casing 14. Each panel 41 has at its lower edge, shallow grooves 50 to receivetabs 47, and tabs 51 to be received in grooves 46.

At its side edges, each panel or part 41 has shallow groovesSZ to receive tabs 49 and tabs 53 to be received in grooves 48. The grooves 519, 51 of panel 4-1 are of a depth equal to the thickness of the panels 43, 44.

When the chest is collapsed, Collapsed part 40 may be left inside of casing 14, with the panels 44 folded down, and with panels 41 laid fiat on said folded part. The casing 14 may then have its flexible front, rear and end walls collapsed or folded flat in any suitable fashion to encompass the collapsed inner box.

To set up the inner box, the walls 44 are upfolded, and the panels 41 placed in position with tabs 51, 53 of the latter fitted into grooves 46, 48 of the latter (whereby tabs 47, 49 of part 40 fit into grooves 50, 52 respectively, of panels 41). Of course the casing 14 has to be unfolded for this purpose, so that panel 43 is on wall 15, panels 44 are against walls 18, and end panels 41 are against end walls 16.

Inserted into the box 12 (by opening flap 3% and folding it back out of the Way) are a plurality of the compartment members 13. Each member 13 comprises a I frame portion 69 preferably made of a single piece of cardboard, plastic or other suitable material. Each portion 61) comprises an end wall 61 from which extends a side wall 62 from which extends an opposite end wall '63, from which extends an opposite side wall 64. One

spectively. A fourth corner hinge is provided by means of a piece of tape 69a adhered to the outer surfaces of walls 61, 64 on opposite sides of the meeting edges 65, 66. The stock of which frame portion 60 is made is preferably lighter or thinner than the stock of which parts 40, 41 are made. The width of each of frame portions 60 is equal to the width of bottom wall 15, so that end walls 61, 63 contact the inner sides of walls 18. Four members 13 fill the box. Shelves for each frame member 61) may be provided by shelf members 70, each having a transverse wall 71 and end flanges 72 which may be stapled or glued or otherwise attached to the inner sides of walls 62, 64. Each member '76 has incisions 71a at its underside forming hinges between wall 71 and its flanges 72. Any suitable number of members may be employed to fill the box and any number of shelves may be provided, although two shelves are shown for purposes of illustration.

Each member 13 may be collapsed, as shown in dotdash lines, in FIG. 8, so that wall 63 swings against the inside of wall 64, and wall 61 swings against the inside of wall 62. The wall 64 of one end member 13 contacts one end wall 16, and the wall 62 of the other end member 13 contacts the opposite end wall 16. The members 13 are preferably sized and dimensioned to fit snugly in the casing 14. They reinforce the parts 40, 41. End, front and rear walls of casing 14, may be collapsed, since those walls, if not all parts of casing 14, are of flexible sheet material.

Thus, the chest is easy to set up or collapse. It may be shipped and stored in collapsed condition to save space. The storekeeper can set up one chest for demonstration and display. The purchaser can easily set up the chest himself at home.

The collapsed members 13 may be laid flat on the collapsed casing 14 and collapsed box 12, and the whole can be completely packed in any suitable manner.

It will be understood that if desired the compartment forming members 13 may be omitted, and the inner box and its casing used together without the compartments.

Referring now in detail to FIGS. 9 to 12, there is shown a container a illustrating a modified form of the invention, here shown in the form of a shelf box (which may be placed on a shelf in a closet).

The shelf box 10a comprises an outer casing 14a similar to casing 14 except that it may be of different dimension. Within said casing 14a is an inner box 12a. Said inner box 12a may comprise two parts 89, 81 made of stiff cardboard, plastic or other suitable material. Part comprises a bottom panel 83 from which extends upwardly a panel 84 hinged thereto by hinge 85 formed by making a longitudinal incision 86 at the underside of the cardboard. Panel 83 is of a dimension to overlie and cover the bottom wall 15a of casing 14a, whereas panel 84 is of a dimension to cover the inner surface of rear wall 18a of the casing.

Panel 83, at its ends, is formed with shallow notches or grooves 86 of a depth equal to the thickness of the stock of which parts 89, 81 are made. Between adjacent grooves 86 are formed tabs 87. Said panel 84 at the ends thereof, are formed with shallow grooves 88 forming tabs 89 therebetween. The free longitudinal edge of panel 83 is also formed with spaced shallow notches or grooves 90 forming therebet-ween, tabs 91. The grooves 90 are also of a depth equal to the thickness of the stock.

Part 81 comprises a central vertical panel 93 from the ends of which extend hinged panels 94. Panel 93 covers the inner surface of front wall 18a of casing 14a, whereas panels 94 cover the inner surfaces of end walls 164; of the casing. The hinge connections between panel 93 and panels 94 are formed by vertical outer incisions 96, as shown in the drawing. Panel 93 at its lower edge has shallow notches or grooves 97 to receive tabs 91 of bottom panel 83, forming tabs 98 received in notches 99' of said bottom panel.

Panels 94 have, at their lower edges, shallow grooves 99 to receive tabs 87 of the bottom panel 83, thereby forming tabs 100 received in notches 86 of said bottom panel.

Said panels 94, at their free vertical edges, are formed with shallow notches or grooves 101 forming tabs 102. Tabs 102 fit into notches 88 of panel 84 and tabs 89 of said panel are received in notches 101 of panels 94. It will now be seen that parts 80, 81 can be interlocked in set up condition to hold the casing 14a in prismatic shape.

Compartment forming members 13a may be inserted into the set up inner box. Said members 13a are similar to members 13, except that they may be provided with only one shelf forming member 70a instead of with two, as with member 13.

Casing 14a may be provided with a zippered flap 30a similar to flap 30.

If desired, shelf box 10a may be used without'the compartment forming members 13a.

It will be understood that panel 84 can be swung down onto panel 83 so that folded part 81) can be flat on the bottom wall 15a of easing 14a. Also panels 94 can be swung inwardly against panel 93 so that folded part 81 can be laid down flat on the folded, laid down part 80.

At least the end and side walls of casing 14:: are flexible so that said walls of the casing can be collapsed, whereby the flap 30a lies down on the folded parts 80, 81.

The members 13a can also be collapsed similarly to members 13 and laid on the collapsed casing 14a.

The chest 10 or shelf box 10:: may he stood up on one end or laid down on a front wall if desired.

It will thus be seen that there is provided an apparatus in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings it to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In combination, a flexible casing having a bottom wall, end walls and front and rear transverse walls and being open at the top, a collapsible inner box comprising a plurality of parts removably mounted in the casing, said parts providing panels to cover the inside of each of said bottom, end, front and rear Walls of the casing, at least one of said parts comprising a plurality of panels integrally hinged together, said parts having means at at least one free edge of one panel releasably interengaging a free edge of an adjacent panel, and said parts being made of stiff stock of similar thickness.

2. The combination of claim 1, said parts being so dimensioned that the panels can be laid flat on the bottom wall of the casing and inside of said casing.

3. The combination of claim 1, and a plurality of compartment forming members removably mounted in said box and contacting inner surfaces of panels which cover the end, front and rear walls of the casing.

4. The combination of claim 3, at least one of said parts comprising a pair of hinged together panels foldable together, and said parts being dimensioned to lie flat on the bottom Wall of the casing, and at least the front,

rear and end walls of the casing being collapsible.

5. The combination of claim 3, each compartment forming member having side Walls interconnected by end Walls with hinges between adjacent walls of said member, and said compartment members having edges contacting the panel which covers the bottom Wall of said casing.

6. The combination of claim 5, and a shelf member interconnecting the side wall of each compartment member, each shelf member comprising a transverse wall from which extend a pair of flanges hinged thereto and attached to said side walls.

7. In combination, a flexible casing having a bottom Wall, end walls and front and rear walls and being open at the top, a collapsible inner box comprising a plurality of parts removaby mounted in the casing, said parts providing panels to cover the inside of each of said bottom, end, front and rear walls of the casing, one part comprising a bottom panel to which are hinged front and rear panels and other parts comprise end panels having means to interlock with end edges of said bottom, front and rear panels.

8. In combination, a flexible casing having a bottom wall, end walls and front and rear walls and being open at the top, a collapsible inner box comprising a plurality of parts removaby mounted in the casing, said parts providing panels to cover the inside of each of said bottom, end, front and rear Walls of the casing, one part comprising a bottom panel to which is hinged a rear panel, and another part comprising a front panel to which are hinged a pair of end panels, said front panel having means at its lower edge to interlock with the front edge of the bottom panel, and said end panels having means to interlock with the end edges of said bottom and rear panels. a

9. In combination, a flexible casing having a bottom Wall, end walls and front and rear transverse walls and being open at the top, a collapsible inner box comprising a plurality of parts removably mounted in the casing, said parts providing panels to cover the inside of each of said bottom, end, front and rear walls of the casing, one of said parts comprising a center panel and a pair of similar panels hinged to a pair of opposed ends of said center panel, the panels of said parts having meeting end edges, and means to interlock said meeting end edges of said parts.

10. The combination of claim 9, one of said parts comprising a panel covering said bottom wall and a panel to cover the inside of one of said transverse walls, and another of said parts comprising at least one panel covering the inside of an end wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 383,175 5/1888 Gardner 22948 1,043,572 11/ 1912 Donely. 1,669,300 5/1928 Hunter. 2,016,520 10/1935 Short. 2,154,085 4/1939 Ber-gstein 21723 2,172,896 9/1939 V/alker 217-23 2,790,589 4/1951 Moore 206-45 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

I. F. MCNULTY, D. F. NORTON, Assistant Examiners. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A FLEXIBLE CASING HAVING A BOTTOM WALL, END WALLS AND FRONT AND REAR TRANSVERSE WALLS AND BEING OPEN AT THE TOP, A COLLAPSIBLE INNER BOX COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PARTS REMOVABLY MOUNTED IN THE CASING, SAID PARTS PROVIDING PANELS TO COVER THE INSIDE OF EACH OF SAID BOTTOM, END, FRONT AND REAR WALLS OF THE CASING, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID PARTS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PANELS INTEGRALLY HINGED TOGETHER, SAID PARTS HAVING MEANS AT AT LEAST ONE 